Enclosed desorption electrospray ionization probes and method of use thereof

Abstract

The invention generally relates to enclosed desorption electrospray ionization probes, systems, and methods. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a source of DESI-active spray, in which a distal portion of the source is enclosed within a transfer member such that the DESI-active spray is produced within the transfer member.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for analyzing a tissue section, the method comprising:
 providing a tissue section; 
 directing a liquid droplet spray discharge from a desorption electrospray ionization probe onto the tissue section, wherein the liquid droplet spray discharge from the desorption electrospray ionization probe desorbs and ionizes an analyte from the tissue section in a manner that preserves the tissue section for further analysis; 
 transferring the ions of the analyte to a mass spectrometer; and 
 analyzing the ions of the analyte in the mass spectrometer, thereby analyzing the tissue section. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method is repeated at least a second time on the same tissue section. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the discharge is water. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the desorption electrospray ionization probe operates without voltage. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the transferring step comprises sending the ions of the analyte through a transfer member that is operably coupled to the mass spectrometer. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the method further comprises generating a gas flow in the transfer member via a pump in a direction opposite that of a first direction with enough counter-flow to reduce a velocity of the discharge. 
     
     
       7. The method accordingly to  claim 6 , wherein a distal portion of the desorption electrospray ionization probe is sealed within the transfer member. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the distal portion of the transfer member is configured to sealably interact with the tissue section. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the mass spectrometer is a bench top mass spectrometer or a handheld mass spectrometer. 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the tissue section is a brain tissue section. 
     
     
       11. A method for analyzing a tissue section, the method comprising:
 providing a tissue section; 
 directing a liquid droplet spray discharge from a desorption electrospray ionization probe onto the tissue section, wherein the liquid droplet spray discharge from the desorption electrospray ionization probe desorbs and ionizes a lipid from the tissue section in a manner that preserves the tissue section for further analysis; 
 transferring the ions of the lipid to a mass spectrometer; and 
 analyzing the ions of the lipid in the mass spectrometer, thereby analyzing the tissue section. 
 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the method is repeated at least a second time on the same tissue section. 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the discharge is water. 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the desorption electrospray ionization probe operates without voltage. 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the transferring step comprises sending the ions of the analyte through a transfer member that is operably coupled to the mass spectrometer. 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises generating a gas flow in the transfer member via a pump in a direction opposite that of a first direction with enough counter-flow to reduce a velocity of the discharge. 
     
     
       17. The method accordingly to  claim 16 , wherein a distal portion of the desorption electrospray ionization probe is sealed within the transfer member. 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the distal portion of the transfer member is configured to sealably interact with the tissue section. 
     
     
       19. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the mass spectrometer is a bench top mass spectrometer or a handheld mass spectrometer. 
     
     
       20. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the tissue section is a brain tissue section.